The Exhibition Program at the National Library of Medicine strives to promote greater understanding and awareness of how the past informs the present and can shape the future.

Understand the past/Imagine the future

By creating exhibitions and educational resources about the social and cultural history of medicine, we encourage visitors of all ages to learn more about themselves and their communities. We seek to stimulate people's enthusiasm for history and to nurture young professionals in history, education, museum studies, and the health professions.

What we do—today

The Exhibition Program creates lively and informative exhibitions and educational resources that enhance awareness of and appreciation for the collections of the National Library of Medicine. These exhibitions and educational resources engage diverse audiences and explore a variety of topics in the history of medicine. Exhibitions are featured in the National Library of Medicine Rotunda Gallery and the History of Medicine Division Reading Room. In addition, we produce traveling exhibitions, which are made available free of charge to public, university, and medical libraries, as well as cultural centers across the country. Our permanent online exhibitions are augmented by multidisciplinary educational and career resources for educators and students in grades K through 12, and in colleges and universities.